The Best Barbells of 2024

This is the type of training bar you’d see at a commercial gym, and is standardized in length at 2.2 meters (or just over 7 feet) and in weight at 20 kilograms (or about 45 pounds). The “sleeves” at each end rotate when loaded with plates. This Olympic Lifting barbell can be used for dynamic lifts like cleans, snatches, and jerks as well as for more static lifts like squats, deadlifts, bench presses, and rows—making it a great powerlifting barbell as well.

This barbell also includes diamond-patterned, medium knurling (areas that are scored) to support your grip during heavy sets up to 1,200 pounds. The bar itself is made of cold-roll steel with a high tensile strength (110,000 PSI), making it more reliable overall. Many customers find it to be a great product for the price, though some complain about how it was packed during shipping. No matter: Once in place in your home gym, it gets the job done.

A women’s Olympic barbell is also standardized in size and weight, albeit smaller and lighter, at 15 kilograms (33 pounds) and 2 meters (or 6.5 feet). The bar itself is also slightly smaller in diameter. Therefore, it’s a good barbell if you have a smaller frame or hands and/or you’re not quite ready for a 45-pound bar. The five needle bearings per sleeve on this steel bar are made to support different training types, rotating smoothly to make it easy to snatch, while its stiff build offers stability for your back lunges, good mornings, and other static exercises up to 1,500 pounds.

As for downsides, some reviewers have had issues with this barbell rusting over time, and say that the knurling only provides average grip (which isn’t ideal for super heavy sets).

Though this style of barbell is called “standard,” there isn’t actually a standard for its size or weight. What makes it standard is the non-rotating sleeves where you load the plates—this attribute makes it better suited for non-dynamic, slower-moving lifts (think squats, deadlifts, bench presses, and rows). You can get standard barbells in Olympic sizes, but if you’re looking for a plated-loaded bar that’s shorter and lighter, go with this highly rated option from Sunny. The bar itself weighs 13.8 pounds and can hold additional weight plates up to 250 pounds, which can be secured with the ring collars that come with the bar.

With its shorter 4-foot length and a W-shaped grip, a curling bar is designed for biceps curls (hence the name) with the angles in the bar allowing you to alter your hand positions to target muscles slightly differently. It can also be used for bent-over rows, skullcrushers, and other exercises where a varied grip is desired and a shorter length is easier to control. This one has a 400-pound weight capacity, durable black zinc plate finish that resists corrrosion, and center knurls (roughed-up sections) that provide a secure grip in any hand position. One small drawback: It may take a while to ship.

Its hexagonal shape may not scream “barbell,” but a trap bar (a.k.a. hex bar) is used in a similar manner for lower-body lifting exercises such as squats, deadlifts, and suitcase carries—as well as upper-body moves like shoulder shrugs. The shape allows you to center the weight around your body, which can make heavy lifting safer and more comfortable. This trap bar can support weight up to 500 pounds, although some customers say that it starts to bend once you lift anything over 300 pounds (precisely, based on reviews), so it may be most ideal for those who won’t max it out. Lastly, this trap bar includes feet that protect your floors when placing it down, as well as keep it balanced while you add and remove weight.

If you want to save a little money on your barbell and plates, a complete set is the way to go. This value-minded option comes with an Olympic bar and rubber bumper plates, rather than steel ones, which means they won’t rust and should keep your home gym floors from getting dented if a weight is dropped. Many Amazon reviewers praise the set’s affordability, though they note the quality of the plates isn’t as high as some, and the actual weight may be a few pounds off from the claims. That said, reviewers say it’s a good pick for those who aren’t looking to spend too much money but want to have a complete set handy in their home gym. You can choose from a variety of plate combinations from 160 total pounds up to 370 pounds to suit your needs.